two pounds be not a sufficient retaliation of their charge alledged by them, that then they may be considered in the next rates to be made, to defray Collony charge.

Voted, Whereas there was a petition presented to this Assembly by severall of the inhabitants of the town of Warwick, that whereas there was a draft of the lands of East Greenwich, &c., by John Smith, Surveyor, by order of a Generall Assembly, and was allowed of by said authority, and ordered to be committed to record. But by the change of government in Sir Edmund Andros his time, said draft has been absconded, which hath proved detrimentall to severall of your petitioners and others; and having since obtained a copy of said draft, this Assembly have desired our Honored Governor, Samuell Cranston, Esq'r, and such others as he shall see cause to advise with prove said сору, which he hath done; and his return to this Assembly is, that the draft is truly laid down according to the severall courses and lines therein drawn.

to

Be it therefore enacted by this Assembly and the authority thereof, That the said draft or plot, so compared and proved by the Honored Governor, aforesaid, shall be from henceforth allowed and taken for the plot of East Greenwich lands; and to be as authentick as the original draft so absconded as aforesaid; any Act to the contrary hereof notwithstanding.

Voted, That the Commissioners chosen in this Assembly to treat with Connecticut gentlemen, be still continued in full power, to act in that concern as fully and amply as they were by their former commission, if there shall be occasion present for another meeting; or by writing, if they see cause.

Be it enacted by and with the advice and consent of the Governor and Assistants and Representatives in this Assembly convened, and the authority thereof, and it is hereby enacted, That Capt'n Joseph Sheffield, Esq'r, is appointed sole Agent for this his Majesty's Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, &c.; always provided, if it doth appear to the aforesaid Capt'n Joseph Sheffield, that Mr. Jahleel Brenton, Esq'r, hath not acted by virtue of the power to him committed, bearing date May 14th, 1699, as well for the maintenance, up

holding and continuing his Majesty's Letters Patent to us granted, as well as any other difference or differences, case or cases, in the behalf of the aforesaid Collony, either before his Majesty's Councill, or any other Ministers of Justice, within the realm of England.

Nevertheless, if it shall appear to the aforesaid Joseph Sheffield, Esq'r, that the afosesaid Jahleel Brenton, Esq'r, hath accepted of the trust, aforesaid, and hath acted and negotiated in the foresaid Collony's behalf, for the maintenance of the privileges to them granted by virtue of the aforesaid Charter, then the said Jahleel Brenton, Esq'r to be continued jointly in the aforesaid Agency, with the aforesaid Sheffield; and he the said Brenton, to be paid his expense and charges in the aforesaid premises, as by an Act of Assembly passed at Newport, the 3d of May, 1699.

But if it shall, on the contrary, appear to the aforesaid Shef field, then he, the said Joseph Sheffield, is hereby appointed whole and sole Agent for this his Majesty's Collony affairs [afore]said; to appear before his Majesty and Councill, or any other Ministers of Justice, in the realm of England, to nego tiate and make answer to and for the aforesaid Collony, in respect to the unhappy difference between this his Majesty's Collony of Connecticut, and to all other matter, case or cases, complaint or complaints whatsoever, shall be alledged in the realm of England, aforesaid, against this his Majesty's Collony, in any nature whatsoever.

Also be it further enacted, That the aforesaid Capt'n Joseph Sheffield, Esq'r, shall have allowed and paid him by this, the aforesaid Collony, after the rate of eighty pounds current money, per annum, during his Agency, besides his reasonable expense and charge in transportation, and otherwise for his honorable accommodation. And what charge he shall be put to for the defence and interest of this Collony, to be paid and allowed of by said Collony of Rhode Island, aforesaid. And that the aforesaid Joseph Sheffield, Esq'r, give unto this his Majesty's Collony an account of his just charge in the premises aforesaid.

Also be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the former Committee, viz.: the Honorable Samuell Cranston, Esq'r, Governor, Robert Carr, James Barker, Giles Slocum, Esq'r, Mr. John Borden, Mr. Ebenezer Slocum, Mr. Nathaniell Waterman, and Mr. Richard Greene, or the major part of them, be continued, with full power to act in all cases, for the forwarding and sending away said Agent with what expedition may be, and to give him full advice as shall be thought needfull.

And be it further enacted, That the Governor of this Majesty's Collony, shall give the aforesaid Agent a full, large and ample commission for the executing the aforesaid premises, with the seal of this his Majesty's Collony thereunto affixed. This Assembly is adjourned to the 25th of March, 1700.

Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the 25th of March, 1700.

Major Samuell Cranston, Governor.
Weston Clarke, Recorder.

At adjournment of the Generall Assembly from the 14th of February, 1699, to the 25th of March, 1700.

Voted, Whereas Mr. Josias Arnold, of Cononnicut, alias Jamestown, presented a petition, dated the 25th of March, 1700, that the Horse Ferry between the said Jamestown and Narrangansett shore might be settled on him for some years, he being willing to provide accommodations suitable for travellers, and suitable boats for good transportation, to attend said Ferry:

This Assembly taking the premises into consideration, and to accommodate the petitioner, and the conveniency that may

be for the future good of his Majesty's subjects in this Collony,

and others.

Be it enacted by this Assembly and the authority thereof and it is hereby enacted, That the said Ferry between Cononnicut, alias Jamestown and Narragansett, be settled on the said Josias Arnold, his heirs and assigns, for the full term and time of seven years. He, the said Josias Arnold, or his assigns, paying in to the Generall Treasury of this Collony two pounds, ten shillings per year, and observing such Acts and orders as hath been already passed, relating to Ferries; and that no person shall by this Act prejudice the said Arnold in his em ploy as aforesaid, by keeping a publick Ferry.

Voted, Be it enacted by this Assembly and the authority thereof, and it is hereby enacted, That the Recorder, with the assistance of Mr. Isaac Martindale, draw up a true copy of the Acts of this Assembly that are not already published and send copies to each town, that they may be in a readiness to be published in the Assembly sitting the day before the next Election; and that Mr. Martindale be allowed ten shillings out of the Generall Treasury, for his assistance herein, and the Recorder eight shillings for each copy of these Acts from the severall towns.

Voted, This Assembly is dissolved.

Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the 30th day of April, 1700.

Major Samuell Cranston, Governor.
Weston Clarke, Recorder.

At a General Assembly, sitting the 30th day of April. 1700, being the day before the Election of Generall Officers for

the Collony of Rhode Island, &c., for to make preparation for said Election.

The House of Deputies have chosen Mr. Jonathan Holmes Speaker, and Mr. Isaac Martindale Clerk.

Voted, That both Houses be resolved into a Committee for the work of this day.

Peleg Shearman, Jun'r, Thomas Hicks, Joseph Anthony, Preserved Fish, Phillip Shearman, William Anthony, Zuruall Hall, Benjamin Hall, Benjamin Wilbor, all of the town of Portsmouth, are admitted freemen of this Collony.

Samson Batty, and John Thomas, of Jamestown, were admitted free of the Collony.

Samuell Clarke, John Sanders, William Champlin, Jun'r, John Clarke, Tobias Brandall, all of the town of Westerly, are admitted freemen of this Collony.

George Tibbitts, and John Carpenter, of the town of Greenwich, are admitted freemen of this Collony.

Capt'n Joseph Sheffield, and Mr. Joseph Williams, Assistant, are appointed to open the proxcive votes at Election.

Mr. Benedict Arnold, and Mr. Job Greene, are to receive the votes at the Election.

The several Deputies above named, were engaged according to the law of the Collony, for the due performance of what they were chosen unto.

Henry Tibbitts, Jr., John Tibbitts, Elisha Mitchell, and Zerrubbabell Westcoat, all of Kingstown, in open Assembly took the oath of allegiance and fidelity to this Collony, according to what was administered to the Deputies.